The increasing complexity of onboard software-operated systems represents a significant safety and business risk for owners and operators of offshore assets. With renewed industry focus on this critical but often poorly managed operational component, DNV has developed the world’s first certificate for Integrated Software Dependent Systems (ISDS).
The ISDS concept has been developed by DNV in response to industry demand for improved management of risks associated with software malfunctions. ISDS is based on a proven methodology to ensure software integrity from the newbuilding process throughout the lifetime of the unit. By assigning responsibility for each practice to one or more critical stakeholders during the newbuilding process, ISDS helps prevent software issues that may result in costly delays at the yard. In addition, ISDS can help owners and operators lower the risk of software related accidents over time, avoiding downtime during operations.
According to Per Jahre Nilsen, project manager for DNV, the ISDS notation is an industry first. “In the past decade, the offshore industry has benefitted from vastly improved operational capabilities of systems and equipment,” he says. “However, these systems and equipment rely on increasingly complex software systems that are often poorly understood and managed. “ISDS is the first class notation to focus on how to develop quality assurance processes that will last throughout the unit’s lifetime,” he says.
At present, DNV is in dialogue with a number of different stakeholders to introduce them to the ISDS methodology. “ISDS may be an optional notation developed for owner and operators, but we recognize that suppliers and the yard have a stake in improving software processes as well,” says Nilsen. “Until recently, no one thought much about software until something went wrong. Thanks to DNV’s ISDS certificate, owners and operators can now gain more control over this critical issue.”
Date: 2011-04-12